ANAHEIM – Ronda Rousey didn't want to hold the UFC women's bantamweight championship belt or be anywhere near it at Thursday's final pre-fight news conference for UFC 157.

Rousey was the Strikeforce women's 135-pound champion when Strikeforce's roster was absorbed into the UFC and UFC president Dana White named her the UFC women's champion, but the former Olympic bronze medalist in judo said she wasn't going to truly feel like the UFC champion until she won the belt inside the octagon.

Rousey can feel comfortable now after she submitted Liz Carmouche at 4:49 of the first round in the first female fight in UFC history in the main event at UFC 157 on Saturday night at Honda Center.

There was immense pressure and media attention on Rousey heading into the fight.

"There's no amount of media that can save these girls from me," Rousey said.

Carmouche put up a valiant effort in defeat and had Rousey in all kinds of trouble early in the fight.

Rousey needed 27 seconds to get the fight to the ground where she is one of the most dangerous grapplers in the sport, but Carmouche swept her and took her back. Rousey tried to stand up and power out of the position, but Carmouche stayed attached to her back. Carmouche went for a neck crank and tried to turn it into a rear-naked choke. Rousey looked to be in pain as Carmouche cranked on her neck.

But Rousey was able to power out of the hold and she eventually landed in side control where she held Carmouche, the first openly gay fighter in the UFC, in a headlock and softened her up with punches.

Rousey eventually mounted Carmouche with 50 seconds left in the opening round and that's when she went looking for the armbar.

Rousey got ahold of Carmouche's right arm and Carmouche had to tap out with 11 seconds left in the opening round.

Rousey, of Venice, is now 7-0 with seven first-round armbar victories. Carmouche, of San Diego, dropped to 8-3.

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